Vandals breach security at former Terry’s chocolate factory

9:39am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

The Terry’s factory, where “urban explorers” took this picture The Terry’s factory, where “urban explorers” took this picture

SECURITY has been stepped up at the former Terry’s chocolate factory in York to tackle a growing problem of vandalism and theft.

The Chocolate Works site, in Bishopthorpe Road, is now protected 24 hours a day at the instigation of site owners GHT Developments, said Matthew Jones, of York property firm Savills, which is handling the ongoing sale of the site.

News of the move comes after local councillor Sandy Fraser revealed police had been increasingly concerned about vandalism and theft, particularly metal theft, from the site.

The Press has also discovered that an “urban explorers” website was featuring a series of photographs of the factory interior and exterior, said to have been taken by an “explorer” who toured the factory last month.

The trespasser is said to be a new member of 28DaysLater.co.uk, a “digital meeting place for like-minded people to share their experiences, reports and photographs” after overcoming some degree of challenge in getting into urban sites.

He claimed on the site that he visited Terry’s with two non-members in January and said: “Easy access to the site, no security, doors and windows open, plus we managed to make it to the top of the remaining factory and Clock Tower.”

One of those involved said: “The explore was a good one, the site itself was easy to look around. The buildings are very interesting, they had lots of original fittings and features still in place, such as the toilets and all the glazed brick.

“The clock tower was very fun to go up, the stairs were still all there and we got to the top, and had a very grand view of the whole of York. It’s a pity York is losing the factory, as it looks generally beautiful.”

There is no suggestion any vandalism or theft happened during their exploration and Mr Jones said the increase in security was purely coincidental. However Coun Fraser, whose Micklegate ward includes the Terry’s site, said police had raised concerns since security had apparently been reduced last year.

He said the site’s vulnerability was of concern, given the iconic nature of some of the factory buildings, and the only long-term solution was for the redevelopment to get under way and for the site to be occupied.

The factory site was put on the market last year after a £165 million scheme for hundreds of new homes, hotels, shops, bars and restaurant by York-based developer Grantside stalled.

The Press reported last month that an undisclosed company had successfully bid to buy the entire site, meaning its redevelopment could finally go ahead.

Comments(42)

meme says...
10:06am Thu 14 Feb 13

The buildings are now wrecked and the listed former HQ in a terrible state externally.
its difficult to see how they can be refurbished especially the former long victorian run of buildings

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b17bomber says...
10:40am Thu 14 Feb 13

Oh well done YEP you gave the urban ones all the publicity they needed.

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exfire says...
11:03am Thu 14 Feb 13

Urban Explorers do not break into buildings. They get in through doors, windows, gaps etc.
They do not vandalize the building or steal things.
They take photographs which usually show the dereliction, abandonment & decay of once glorious / impressive buildings.
The pictures show a part of our history, which is usually not being covered by anyone else.

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VladSchmidt says...
11:08am Thu 14 Feb 13

This is just an attempt at shock reporting. Any dog walker can see there is little security to be breached with half the fence panels missing. Anyone who has been to the site to grafitti and vandalise is simply untermensch.

The vast majority of urbexers are there for the same reason and a great deal of them do very well in documenting heritage from the inside and would be sickened that this article puts them in with vandalism. Please read and also support (google) Urbexers against Vandalism.

How an affluent community, employment and years of heritage has been pillaged and outsourced by a corporation is more of a reason to be shocked than a glue sniffer with a marker pen.

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Pete the Brickie says...
12:23pm Thu 14 Feb 13



However Coun Fraser said the site’s vulnerability was of concern, given the iconic nature of some of the factory buildings, and the only long-term solution was for the redevelopment to get under way and for the site to be occupied.



It's not the only solution and it's certainly not the easiest given any developer has the recession and local house building affordable housing quotas to deal with.

Knowing the police are available for the "long-term", couldn't we ask them to vent some of that concern they have for these historic buildings by popping by every so often. They could wear bright yellow outdoor clothing, write safer neighbourhood on the side of their cars to stop vandals and tweet/facebook photos of themselves near the site to deter those wishing to inocently walk round and admire the architecture.

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bradford in focus says...
12:45pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I was there just yesterday, This site which is part of all our heritage is open for all to marvel at. If security were active then all I can say is their batteries need replacing. There is nothing left to steal for the usual metal thieves and very little evidence of any vandalism was evident. Where is the balanced story here? Yet another peice of editorial seeking to condemn. For photographs of the old building, clock tower and face in a winter setting visit my website.. http://www.mark-davi
s-photography.com/yo
rkshire/terrys-choco
late-factory-york/

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Whistlejacket says...
12:50pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Crocodile tears from Cllr. Fraser?
Has he forgotton that councillors, himself included, went against the advice of their own planning officers and rejected the proposal by the previous developer, Grantside.
If they had been allowed to go ahead five years ago, this would now be a thriving area, providing jobs and houses for local people.
Instead it's a decaying mess.

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Buzz Light-year says...
1:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13

VladSchmidt wrote:
This is just an attempt at shock reporting. Any dog walker can see there is little security to be breached with half the fence panels missing. Anyone who has been to the site to grafitti and vandalise is simply untermensch. The vast majority of urbexers are there for the same reason and a great deal of them do very well in documenting heritage from the inside and would be sickened that this article puts them in with vandalism. Please read and also support (google) Urbexers against Vandalism. How an affluent community, employment and years of heritage has been pillaged and outsourced by a corporation is more of a reason to be shocked than a glue sniffer with a marker pen.
Excellent post.
Couldn't agree more.

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Buzz Light-year says...
1:05pm Thu 14 Feb 13

The Press haven't even been out of the office for this story.
All they've done is visit a website.
Rubbish.

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bradford in focus says...
1:18pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I have finally located the security.. http://www.facebook.
com/photo.php?fbid=1
0151397729781220&set
=a.10151396744071220
.449546.728436219&ty
pe=3&theater

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blahblah says...
1:25pm Thu 14 Feb 13

bradford in focus - love the photos!

York Press - lazy headline, lazy story.

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roskoboskovic says...
1:44pm Thu 14 Feb 13

if we had a decent council then the redevelopment of this site would be well under way.too busy with cycling issues,pedestrianisi
ng and generally saying no to actually get anything done.

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bob the builder says...
2:12pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Developers need listed sites to be vandalised and wrecked beyond conservation as it's cheaper and easier if you can demolish, hence minimal security. Best to employ an older overweight gent in glasses who can't run. I'm just looking at a 28 tonne demolition crane for sale locally, I found it by chance, fun for all!

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deathwatch says...
2:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Buzz Light-year wrote:
VladSchmidt wrote:
This is just an attempt at shock reporting. Any dog walker can see there is little security to be breached with half the fence panels missing. Anyone who has been to the site to grafitti and vandalise is simply untermensch. The vast majority of urbexers are there for the same reason and a great deal of them do very well in documenting heritage from the inside and would be sickened that this article puts them in with vandalism. Please read and also support (google) Urbexers against Vandalism. How an affluent community, employment and years of heritage has been pillaged and outsourced by a corporation is more of a reason to be shocked than a glue sniffer with a marker pen.
Excellent post.
Couldn't agree more.
I too, couldn't have put it better myself. The article is yet nother example of amateur journalism 'supported' (not!) by poor research...

Report this post »

Garrowby Turnoff says...
2:23pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Long ago, there used to be a 'Palace' owned by the Archbishops of York in Bishop Wilton. It lasted a couple of hundred years and then was abandoned in 1388 after the political Archbishop Neville fled to Flanders to escape arrest. Within a few years of leaving the 'palace' was in ruins and by 1500 nothing much remained except a few humps and bumps in a field.

Nothing changes. Six hundred years later humans still wreck abandoned properties as though its their right to do so. "All Things Must Pass" sang George Harrison, this is how it is.

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jack white says...
3:58pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Why not do something with this huge empty site? How long has terrys been closed? and nothing has ever been approved for the site?

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Chasing Clicks says...
5:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13

This is lazy report with little understand of the people you talk about! If your going to report of “urban explorers” and use the work “ Vandals “ in the same report then you really need rethink about your future reports you could get people into a lot of trouble .

Just like many others i’ve reported on this place and the only vandals you should be talking of is metal thieves and graffiti artists not people with cameras.

http://chasingclicks
.wordpress.com/

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lezyork1966 says...
5:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I have some lovely shots of that place, and some from the top of the tower, but didnt break in.

I walked in, via the huge hole in the fence at the side gate opposite the school, walked through all the workmens caravans, did my photos, and then got 'caught' by a scruffy youth with his girfriend who told me he was security and he was throwing me off, in his t shirt and trainers, against me in my high vis and toecaps, you see i have worked security, i know how to dress to be safe, and this twonk was lecturing me! he said I was a sneaky individual.. sneaky, with cameras and tripods and wearing hi-vis safety gear....

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Woody G Mellor says...
5:59pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Cool. Me and a few mates are going to have a look around on Saturday. Everyone welcome. Apart from vandals and thieves.

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Mexico75 says...
6:57pm Thu 14 Feb 13

About time they did something, watching the decline of the historic clock tower from a famous fully working landmark, to a smashed up ruin has been really sad.

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yawn.. says...
7:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13

top man bradford in focus... urbex rocks.. take only photos.. leave only footprints.

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.KopeX. says...
7:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13

deathwatch wrote:
Buzz Light-year wrote:
VladSchmidt wrote:
This is just an attempt at shock reporting. Any dog walker can see there is little security to be breached with half the fence panels missing. Anyone who has been to the site to grafitti and vandalise is simply untermensch. The vast majority of urbexers are there for the same reason and a great deal of them do very well in documenting heritage from the inside and would be sickened that this article puts them in with vandalism. Please read and also support (google) Urbexers against Vandalism. How an affluent community, employment and years of heritage has been pillaged and outsourced by a corporation is more of a reason to be shocked than a glue sniffer with a marker pen.
Excellent post.
Couldn't agree more.
I too, couldn't have put it better myself. The article is yet nother example of amateur journalism 'supported' (not!) by poor research...
Spot on Vlad and company. Very naughty Mr Laycock 'chief reporter'.

The factory closed in 2005 and the subsequent news flash has been occuring for over 7 years. I managed to photograph this massive part of Yorks heritage without feeling the need to destroy any of it.. flickr.com/photos/ko
pex/sets/72157631194
257192/

This article is deeply ignorant and an abuse of journalistic power.

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Paul Meoff says...
7:48pm Thu 14 Feb 13

If this went under the headline "Excellent Photographic Record of York Heritage" the Press would have more credibility.

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Roger! says...
10:03pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I would just like to say that we didn't break anything, there is a pathetic amount of the security at the site. How dare you call us Vandals, vandals smash and break things, we broke nothing. We were just taking pictures, nothing more.We just want to photograph these buildings before they are lost for ever.

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Roger! says...
10:06pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Also, here is the page, http://www.facebook.
com/UrbexLeeds look at the pictures. Also, we never did the graffiti, that was already there.

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the butler says...
10:30pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I wonder why the present owners don't hire guides to give daily tours,9am to 6pm. it seems to be a more practicle means of being on site rather than urban explorers at a small fee!, enough to pay the guides...

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Woody G Mellor says...
10:32pm Thu 14 Feb 13

the butler wrote:
I wonder why the present owners don't hire guides to give daily tours,9am to 6pm. it seems to be a more practicle means of being on site rather than urban explorers at a small fee!, enough to pay the guides...
Good idea! I'd do it for free if I had the knowledge. Seriously.

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Scarlet Pimpernel says...
10:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

After Grantside paid £26m for the site plus interest band fees, the site has been bought by Henry Boot.

They don't rush.

They bought the Redfern National Glass land at Poppleton donkeys years ago and held it for years before selling it to Evans of Leeds, and it is now Poppleton Business Park.

They also bought and developed the land which is Clifton Moor retail park (Tesco's and the rest), but, did this over many years and only sold their investment recently.

They play a long game, and the £12m they paid is a bargain basement price.

Prepare for a long wait to see it proceed, on Henry Boot's terms, not York Councils !

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MouseHouse says...
11:01pm Thu 14 Feb 13

no story here...

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www.yorkstories.co.uk says...
11:37pm Thu 14 Feb 13

The Press discovers "urban explorers" and confuses them with vandals.

I've stayed on the non-trespassing side of the fence, but on the site they mention, evidence that many have been accessing this site for years. It's not news: http://www.28dayslat
er.co.uk/forums/tags
/terry.html

Can I put a link in to my own site too, as everyone else is ... http://www.yorkstori
es.co.uk/blog/2012/1
2/29/chocolate-works
-cocoa-works/

(etc. See 'Terry's' tag)

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www.yorkstories.co.uk says...
11:40pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Buzz Light-year wrote:
VladSchmidt wrote:
This is just an attempt at shock reporting. Any dog walker can see there is little security to be breached with half the fence panels missing. Anyone who has been to the site to grafitti and vandalise is simply untermensch. The vast majority of urbexers are there for the same reason and a great deal of them do very well in documenting heritage from the inside and would be sickened that this article puts them in with vandalism. Please read and also support (google) Urbexers against Vandalism. How an affluent community, employment and years of heritage has been pillaged and outsourced by a corporation is more of a reason to be shocked than a glue sniffer with a marker pen.
Excellent post.
Couldn't agree more.
Me too.

Report this post »

Magicman! says...
1:22am Fri 15 Feb 13

Those who actually break things and spray graffitti are NOT urban explorers, they are chavs and vandals. Urban Explorers use already existing openings to a building, and take only pictures... essentially as a historical log of abandoned buildings in that condition before it is either lost due to vandalism, clearing or redevelopment.

Perhaps the site owners could make a few quid if they organised tours of the site once a month for small groups of people - including up the clock tower. H&S gear provided for the visit and a safety briefing beforehand would sort out legalities and the liability side of things, and then locals would be able to see inside this monument to our industrial heritage... same goes for the Nestle 'cream block'.

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Steve, says...
9:13am Fri 15 Feb 13

After reading the title, then seeing "There is no suggestion any vandalism or theft happened during their exploration" I can only assume the reporter is an idiot.

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.KopeX. says...
9:31am Fri 15 Feb 13

Terrys of York...

flickr.com/photos/ko
pex/sets/72157631194
257192/

The next generation won't grow up with the reminiscent York chocolate aroma so at least we can share the views and stories.

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Steve, says...
9:51am Fri 15 Feb 13

^I noted this "Boiler Room

Didn't have time to do this properly as there were workmen in the next room."

...don't worry, I know a couple of people who did ;)

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SB Dubs says...
10:00am Fri 15 Feb 13

Mexico75 wrote:
About time they did something, watching the decline of the historic clock tower from a famous fully working landmark, to a smashed up ruin has been really sad.
Yes i wish whilst they were in the clocr they would have put the **** thing right! It can be seen round York. I can see it from my window, but it stopped years ago. So sad that this beautiful building has been hacked at and left such a mes ii

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heworth.28 says...
10:01am Fri 15 Feb 13

Another example of how cutbacks at the Press are resulting in reporters having to crib stories from online rather than being able to do some proper journalism, quite often they're just slightly embellishing facebook or twitter posts and publishing it as news

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SB Dubs says...
10:05am Fri 15 Feb 13

York press have deleted a word from my last message, therefore appearing that i said an extremely bad swear word, which i did not and i would never do. Press, please be a little more flexible!

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Hank-York says...
11:48am Fri 15 Feb 13

Vandals? Don't make me laugh. A 5 year old could get into that place, i've seen photos inside that have been taken as far back as when it had just closed, and as recent as this month.

Urban Explorers don't break anything, nor steal. They just take photographs.

Any damage is thanks to Yorks youth I would say. Although there was some amazing art on the walls of the old warehouses which are now flattened.

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Steve, says...
12:02pm Fri 15 Feb 13

An issue is so little is provided for the yoof that they have to resort to checking out such places, where exactly can they go??

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Buzz Light-year says...
12:40pm Fri 15 Feb 13

SB Dubs wrote:
York press have deleted a word from my last message, therefore appearing that i said an extremely bad swear word, which i did not and i would never do. Press, please be a little more flexible!
Don't think it's up to The Press, I think it's automatic with the website software which is the same for dozens of local papers across the country.

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Archimedes says...
7:56pm Fri 15 Feb 13

As many of the writers have said most explorers do it because they're interested in documenting the heritage of buildings etc.

Unfortunately there are less scrupulous types out there. 28 Days Later previously claimed to not condone criminal behaviour but a quick look shows the website header as the "The UK Urban Exploitation Forums. ... No rules and no limits"! I can't personally say that gives me much faith in the website.

There are also websites such as "Urbex against vandalism" & "Urbex against theft" which claim to have evidence of 28dayslater members stealing and the comments by some members of 28dayslater make it seem as if theft is casually accepted by certain people. This includes people such as "Speed, Root, Wevsky & Mark Thomas".

At this point I'd like to add that not every explorer takes mementos or is a vandal. And that those who do are a minority!

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